Automatic operating mechanism in feed hoppers



April 12, 1938. J. KERSHAW AUTOMATIC OPERATING MECHANiSM IN FEED HOPPERSOriginal Filed Aug. 3, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 6 JAW/NVENTV m nrromvsLApril 12, 1938. J. G. KERSHAW AUTOMATIC OPERATING MECHANISM IN FEEDHOPPERS Original Filed Au f s, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVE'NTORI .fiW

April 12, 1938.

J. G. KERSHAW AUTOMATIC OPERATING MECHANISM IN FEED HOPPERS OriginalFiled Aug. 3, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IL INVf/VT R f/ arrolF/JEL April1938. J. G. KERSHAW 2,113,988

AUTOMATIC OPERATING MECHANISM IN FEED HOPPERS Original Filed Aug. 3,1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 //VVENTOR /i;rm W 5; a

April 12, 1938. J. a. KERSHAW 2,

I AUTOMATIC OPERATING MECHANISM IN FEED HOPPERS Original Filed Aug. '5,i954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 12, 1938 AUTOMATIC OPERATINGMECHANISM IN FEED HOPPERS v John Green Kershaw, Drummondville, Quebec, vCanada, assig'nor to Dominion Textile Company Limited, Montreal, Quebec,Canada. I

Original application August 3, 1934, Serial Nd.

738,282. Divided and this application May 22,

1935, Serial No. 22,821

Claims.

The invention relates to an automatic operating mechanism in feedhoppers, as described in the present specification and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings that form part-of the 45. same. I

"The invention consists essentially in the electro-magnetic releasemechanism whereby the feed,v carrier .is electrically connected in sofar as its operatingmembers are concerned-to an 10 enlarging throatmember adapted to de-energize the magnets coincidently with the chokingeffect as pointed out in the claimsfornovelty followinga description indetail .of the features of construction. 7 'x 7 The objects of theinvention are to maintain an even feed in scfutching and pickingmachines or the like, corresponding to the size of the throat of thefeedentrance and to dothis automatically in order that unforeseen stoppagesor blockages of the intermediate partsof the machine or machines shallbe avoided, as described more fully in the specification attached to theapplication filed under Serial Number 738,282,0n August 3rd,

1934; of which this application is a division, and

generally to provide a flexibleuautomatic .stop

and start mechanism and to automatically determine the quantities fedintothe machine.- V

In'the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View. of one formof machinein which the operating member for the electro-magneticalcontrol of the hopper feed mechanism is shown.

Figure 2-is a plan 'view of the machine as illustrated in Figure 1. I

l I Figure Sis a plan view of the electro-magnetical clutch mechanism inengagement with the feed carrier' to thehopper and showing theelectrical connections to the magnets and the mechanicalswitchconnections from theautomatically operated wallsection of thehopper.

40 Figure 4 is.v an elevatio-nal, View showing the automaticallyoperated wall section or door connected with the clutch mechanism. A a

Figure 5 is' a detail showing the door wall section apart from thehopper and the .springop- 5 eratingmechanism with the contacts in theirclosed position. 1

. Figure 6 is a similar vi w with the contacts open. a I v Figure '7 isa viewof the same parts as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 and at rightangles thereto. 1'. l f V Figure 8 is a plan view of the spring contactmechanism illustratedin Figures 5, 6. and 7. Figure- 9 is adiagrammaticview showing the electricalmechanical moving parts-for effecting theoperation of themagnetic clutch and show-. 1

ing the switch closed.

Figure 10 is a similar view to that in Figure 9 showing the switchoperi.

Figure 11 is a vertical sectional livery section of a hopper feedercontaining the quantity controller and showing a beater.

Figure 12 is a detail showing the capacity adjusting mechanism in thequantity controller.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding'parts in the variousfigures; v t v The introduction of mechanism for the control of densityof .feed at the mouth of the delivery section'is a considerable advancein itself in ma.- chinery used in the manufacture of cotton or otherfibrous products, in fact in any machine in 'which'choking mayoccurinthe throat of the delivery section and the adaptation of electro:magnetical force in the driving mechanism very much facilitates thecommunication between the the cotton field manufacture, and thereforefor viewofthe dea good understanding of the invention the same form ofhopper feeder is used as is illustrated and described in the applicationfor a patent mentioned in the foregoing. i

Referring to the drawings, following the breaking of the bales and roughcleaningzthe stock reaches the carrier or carriers indicated by thenumeral I5, and it is on to this carrier mechanism that the stock orcotton, as it-will be generally called in this description, forconvenience sake, will be transported and this cotton, which has beenroughly cleaned, feeds on to the carrier l6 and is elevated by thecarrier I! to the delivery section of the hopper feeding machine.

The beater I9 is formed with a "hub mounted on the driven shaft 20, andfrom which the blades which is practically at the mouth of the deliverysection.

This mechanism, so far as it has been described is conventionalconstruction and the novel features begin with the passage of the cottoninto the delivery section. Naturally the rotation of the blades in adownward direction strips the cotton from the spikes of the aproncarrier I1, driving it into the mouth of the delivery section, and thispartially cleaned cotton continues passing in a mass in so far as thecapacity of the delivery section will permit.

The delivery section construction may include a top wall formed of twohinged door sections, the uppermost door constituting a yielding membercapable of being pushed outwardlyv by an increasing mass of cotton whichbuildsup after the delivery section becomes full, tending to choke thethroat of the delivery section, and therefore relief must be obtained byhesitation or stoppage of the apron carrier 11. The result of thisoutward door movement is the temporary cessation of the feed, as will beexplained more fully hereinafter. V r

This door 23 as a yielding member is pivotally secured in the bearings24,while the cover door 25 is secured in the pivot bearings 26.

The movement of the door 23 outwardly rotates the pivot pin 54, which inturn operates the arm 2! in the slot 28 of the weighted pivoted lever29, this lever being swivelly connected with a push pin 30.

The push pin 30 engages the back of the spring switch contact 3| securedthrough the flange 32 to a baseboard 33 containing the switch mechanism.

The coacting spring contact 34 extends from'the flange 35 secured tosaid baseboard and the adjustment of this contact 34 is by means of thethreaded pin 36 screwing into and through the stop 31 and held by thelock nut 38 in position.

The push pin 35 is shown as sliding in the bracket 39 rigidly-secured tosaid baseboard. The binding posts 40 and 4| are respectively connectedto the switchcontacts through corresponding binding posts in theswitch-contact flange and similarly the leads 42 and 43 to the power areconnected to said switch flanges, but the binding posts 40 and 4| aredirectly connected to the magnetic clutch 44 through the arm 45, thecommutator 46 to the electro-magnetic clutch coils 41 having the clutchcores 48.

These electro-magnetic clutch coils 4! are fast within the drivingpulley 49 which is a slack pullay and constantly rotated by a drivingbelt.

As soon as the pressure of the cotton on the door 23 is released theswitch contacts 3! and 34 are brought together which energizes theelectromagnets fixed in the pulley 49 which with the corescomplete amagnetic circuit with the clutch plate 50 formed in the driven pulleythereby creating a pull between the pulleys 49 and5l and consequentlyholding the pulley 5| through a suitable friction face to rotate withthe pulley 49 and in turn driving the elevating carrier through theintervening gears 52 and 53. r

Thefeed on the carriers. [5 and I6 leading to the elevating carrier.apron I1 is interrupted through the action of the regulating door 23,and itmay be said that this feed to the elevating carrier isindependently driven and is, quite another mechanism. 7 The sidewalls 55and 56 of the delivery section are fixed. and form part. of the maincasing of the machine, while'the bottom wall 51 and the sectional topwall are adjustable and have independent functional movements incontrolling the feed of the cotton.

The adjustable bottom wall 51 can be moved in a horizontal direction,backwardly or forwardly in the boxlike structure and is carried on thetriangular frame 58 towards and away from the cover door 25, butremaining parallel therewith always leaving suflicient space for thecotton to pass, according to the amount desired, which is controlled bythe action of the upper hinged door 23. .The cover door 25 has asmoothing effect on the cotton when brought into contact with it throughthe manipulation of the adjustable bottom 51. I

The delivery section empties the cotton on to a wood slat apron carrier59 for further treatment.

, The outer casings 6B and top plate 6| are in the nature of coverplates, enclosing the feed end of the ,machine and extend forwardly asfar as the delivery section. The side walls of the outer casingpartitions extend throughout the length of the machine, and it isfrom'these side walls that the bearings 24 extend in the form ofbrackets to support the pivot pins 54 of said door 23. The barrel 62; ofthe hinge terminates this door at the inner end and is fast on the pin54, and at one end the balance weight 63 is adjustably mounted on thearm 64, which projects'from the pivot pin and is keyed thereto. This arm64 is connected byfthe link 65 to the adjusting screw 66, this screwhaving the operating-handle 61 and turning in the clevis block .68,which is pivotally mounted on the end of thepivot pins 54, the link65,.being pivotally secured to the arm at one end and to. the nut 69 atthe other end, the latter being mounted on said screw for adjustingpurposes. V

' The turning of the screw by means of the handle 61 changes theangularposition of the arm 64 in relation to the screw 66 as the nut 63 travelsupwardly or downwardly on the screw pivoting the arm 64 by theconnectinglink 65 and consequently the, door 23 to the desired adjustedposition.

If the nut is moved towards the wheel or handle, thedoor 23. is movedoutwardly when it will allow a greater mass of cotton to pass into thedelivery section before causing the apron carrier H to stop. If the nutis moved away from the wheel, the opposite effect is obtained. Thisadjustment is necessary in order to process different types andgrades-of fibrous material, or different weights of lap required. I

The outer end of the pivot pin 54 is connected by the lever 21 to theelectrically and mechanically operated parts for starting and stoppingthe feed, and in this connection, the door 23 itself becomes themechanically operated lever due to the pressure from within the throatof the delivery section tending to push the door outwardly. I 7

The operationrof the door 25 is manual, and this door is lifted by thehandle projecting from the lower. end, and the door only needs to beopened to determine the .condition of the fibrous material within thehopper.

Briefly. the operation of this invention includes the feeding of thecotton in the horizontal and vertical carriers, as it comes from thebale, and the emptying of this cotton into the mouth of the deliverysection in the path of the beater.

Theelevation of the cotton brings it up into contact with the beater,which is a primary opening machine. The beater stripsthe cottoniromthespikes of the apron carrier, throwing it intothethroatof thedeliverysection. The feed remains constant so longlas' there i is nochoking in the mouth or throat of the delivery section, but this chokingwill occur periodically yieldable door at the hopper mouth, so that when1 the feed becomes too abundant and chokes the throat of the hopper,theyieldable member pushes outwardly and breaks the contact supplyingelectrical energy to the coilsand these in turn cease operating on thecores to part the two pulleys,

and it is then that the upright carrier fails to elevate anymore cotton,until the beater has throat, a pulley constantly driven and a clutchdisc having a gear coacting with said driven rotor, anelectro-magneticclutch mounted in said pulley and including a commutator, a source ofelectric current, an operating circuit including the magnetic clutch andthe clutch disc operatively connected to each other when the circuit iscompleted and an electric switch mechanism closing a break in saidcircuit and mechanically operated from the delivery section on theoccurrence of the choking action in the'throat.

2. In automatic operating mechanism in feed hoppers, a feed carrier, adriven rotor engaging said carrier, a delivery section, a movable memberin said delivery section, contacting with the material fed thereinto andreaching an actuating position onthe choking of the hopper throat, apulley constantly driven and having a plurality of electromagnets,clutch coils containing (clutch cores and a commutator, a clutch discconnected to said driven rotor, a source of electric current, anoperating circuit including the electro-magnetic clutch of said pulleyand the clutch disc operatively connected to each other when the circuitis completed and an electric switch mechanism closinga break in saidcircuit and mechanically operated from the delivery 'section on theoccurrence of the chokingaction in t the throat.

3. In automatic operatingmechanism in feed hoppers, a feed carrier, adriven rotor engaging said carrier, a delivery section, a movable memberin said delivery section contacting with the material fed thereinto andreaching an actuating position on the choking of the delivery sectionthroat, a pulley constantly driven and a clutch disc having a gearcoacting with said,

driven rotor, an electro-magnetic clutch mounted in said pulley andincluding a commutator, an arm journalled to the pulley support, asource of electric current, an operating circuitconnected to theelectro-magnetic clutchthrough said arm and the clutch discoperativelyconnected when the'circuit is completed, an electric switch mechanismclosing a break .in said circuit and having switch spring contacts.controlled by a push pin, and mechanical means for moving the push pinagainst the spring contacts and operated from the delivery section onthe occurrence of the choking action in the throat.

4; In automatic operating mechanism in feed hoppers, a feed carrier, adriven rotor engaging said carrier, a delivery section, a movable memberin said delivery section contacting with the material fed thereinto andreaching an aotuating position on the choking of the delivery Sectionthroat, anelectrcmagnetic clutch, a clutch disc operatively connectedto'the driven rotor of said'carrier, a source of electric current, anoperating circuit including the magnetic clutch and the clutch discoperatively connected to each other when the circuit is completed, anelectric switch mechanism closing a break in said circuit and havingspring contacts and a spring contact push pin, a pivoting member securedto said movable member and operating a weighted pivoted leveroperatively contacting said push pin, said circuit being closed throughthe movements of the movable member in the delivery section on theoccurrence of the choking action in the throat.

5. In automatic operating mechanism infeed hoppers, a feed carrier, adriven rotor engaging said carrier, a delivery section, a movable memberin said delivery section contacting with the material fed thereinto, andreaching an actuating position on the choking of the delivery sectionthroat, an electro-magnetic clutch, a clutch disc operatively connectedto the driven rotor of said carrier, a source of electric current, anoperating circuit including the magnetic clutch, and the clutch discoperatively connected to eachother when the circuit iscompleted, anelectric switch mechanism, a pivot pin rotated by said movable memberand carrying a crank arm opbers secured to the side walls of saiddelivery section and having a pivot pin journalled therein, ahingedbarrel member mounted on said pivot pin and secured to said yieldingmember, a weighted arm and clevis block mounted on one end of said pivotpin, an adjusting screw engaging with said 'clevis block and having anoperating handle, a link'member securedat one end tosaid weightedarm'and at the other end to a nut engaging said adjusting screw, feedcarriers, means 7 'for driving said carriers, a declutching mechanismfor retarding said carriers at each choking tendency of the material fedinto the delivery section throat and means operatively connecting saidyielding member to the declutching mechanism.

7. In a quantity controller in hopper feeding machines, a deliverysection having a manually operated door section and a yielding doorsectionoperated by the feed, pivoted means for each'of said manuallyoperated door section and said yielding door section and journalled inthe delivery section walls, means for adjusting said yielding doorsection to a selected normal position and connected to the pivoted meansthereof, feed carriers and means for driving said feed carriers, andelectrical and mechanical means for starting and stopping said feedcarriers and operatively connected to the pivoted means of said yieldingdoor section.

8. In a quantity controller in hopper feeding machines, a deliverysection having a throat portion, a yielding member at its inlet andextending beyond the throat portion, and operated by pressure ofincoming material and turning a hinge pin, an elevating feed carrierdirected at its upper end to said throat and means for driving said feedcarrier, a clutch mechanism in said driving means including mechanicaland electrical means, and a stop mechanism controlled by the excess ofmaterial feeding into said delivery section operatively connecting thehinge pin of said yielding member and said clutch mechanism for startingand stopping said feed carriers.

9. In a quantity controller in hopper feeding machines, a deliverysection having a throat portion, a yielding member at its inlet andextending beyond the throat portion, pivoted means secured to saidyielding member and journalled in the side walls of said deliverysection, a weight and adjusting means secured to one end of said pivotedmeans, an elevating feed member transporting the material to saiddelivery section, a driving mechanism for said feed member, and a stopmechanism including mechanical and electrical means applied to saiddriving mechanism and connected to the other end of said pivoted meansto stop the driving mechanism by the movement of said yielding member.

10. In a quantity controller in hopper feeding machines, a deliverysection having a throat por-- tion, a yielding member at its inlet endand extending beyond the throat portion, bearing members secured to theside walls of said delivery section and having a pivot pin journalledtherein, a hinged barrel member mounted on said pivot pin and secured tosaid yielding member, a Weight arm secured to one end of said pivot pinand carrying a balancing weight, an elevating feed carrier, and meansfor driving said feed carrier, a mechanism for retarding said carrier ateach choking tendency of the material fed into the delivery sectionthroat and mechanical and electrical means operatively connecting saidyielding member to the retarding mechanism.

11. In a quantity controller in hopper feeding machines, a deliverysection having a throat portion, a yielding member at its inlet end andextending beyond the throat portion, hinged members secured to saidyielding member, a weighted member connected to said yielding member,adjustable means for controlling the length of travel of said yieldingmember and secured thereto, an elevating feed carrier and means fordriving said feed carrier, a declutching mechanism for retarding saidcarrier at each choking tendency of the material fed into the deliverysection throat; and mechanical and electrical means operativelyconnecting said yielding member to the declutching mechanism.

12. A scutching or picker machine, comprising an endless carrier havinga gear drive, a pulley constantly driven, a clutch disc having a gearcoacting in the aforesaid drive, an electro-magnetic clutch carried bysaid pulley and engaging prising an endless carrier having a gear drive,a

pulley having a clutch face connected with said drive, a pulleyconstantly driven facing said clutch face and having electro-magneticclutch mechanism, a feed passage having a sectional upper wall formingtwo hinged doors, one for inspection purposes and the other forcontrolling the feed of cotton, a hinge pin in said controlling door, anelectric switch arm connected with said hinge pin and having connectionswith said electro-magnetic clutch mechanism for completing the magneticcircuit between the pulleys to' connect the drive to said carrier, andmeans for dressing the cotton to complete a lap.

14. A scutching and picking machine, comprising an endless carrierhaving a gear drive, a

pulley having clutch face connected with said drive, a pulley constantlydriven facing said clutch face and having electro-magnetic clutchmechanism, a feed mechanism having a sectional upper wall forming twohinged doors, one for inspection purposes and the other for controllingthe feed of'cotton, a hinge pin constituting a crank rod, an electricswitch arm connected with said hinge pin and having electricalconnections with said electro-magnetic mechanism to energize saidmagnets when the switch is closed and complete the magnet circuitbetween the driven pulley and the clutch face, to connect the drive tosaid carrier and means for collecting the cotton from said feedmechanism and means for dressing the cotton to complete a lap.

15. A scutching or picker machine, comprising an endless carrier mountedon a pulley having a gear drive, a clutch disc having a gear coacting inthe aforesaid drive, a pulley constantly driven, a clutch mechanism insaid pulley normally cooperating with said clutch disc in the drivingmovement, a feed passage having a hinged door adjustably positioned on ahinge pin, a weighted arm mounted on said pin and balancing said do0r,an adjusting screw and nut mounted on the door hinge, pin and linked tothe weighted arm for widening and narrowing the feed passage mouth, andscutching and picking means.

JOHN GREEN KERSHAW.

